Shift To Batangas, Subic Supported

Truck operators support the government’s plan to move cargo traffic from Manila to Batangas and Subic ports to decongest Metro Manila but urge regulators to withdraw existing truck ban and instead establish a regular truck route that they could use unhindered.

The Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines (CTAP) said it supports the Department of Transportation and Communication’s (DoTC) impending policy decision on shifting port traffic , saying the proposal is “salutary and economically viable.” But CTAP president Ruperto Bayocot said government should fix some established trucking regulations first before implementing the cargo traffic shift, primarily the trucking ban on certain thoroughfares.

“Unlike in Metro Manila, the transportation of cargoes in and out of Batangas or Subic ports should not be covered by a truck ban. Instead, a special truck route should be established to ensure the continuing and hasslefree transport of cargoes,” he said.

Bayocot said cargo trucks that will move operation from Manila to either Batangas or Subic ports should not be under the control of the local trucking associations covering their new port of business.

“There exists at present a local trucking association in Batangas port which tends to control and monopolize the operation and movement of trucks in the area. CTAP believes that every truck transporting cargoes in and out of Batangas port should not be subject to control by any local trucking association. On the contrary, such truck should be given access to and from the port without being harassed,” he said.

Bayocot urged the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to establish a complaint and monitoring office inside Batangas port, in particular, “to safeguard the interest of truckers and other port users.” He also defended truckers from being blamed as major factors to the perennial problem of traffic congestion in the streets of Metro Manila.

“Truckers are not solely to blame for the daily traffic congestion in the port of Manila. There are other factors that contributed to the traffic congestion,” he said.

Bayocot cited the local government unit’s ordinances that run counter to the Metro Manila Council ordinance no. 5, which gives trucks a 24-hour window time and a designated route to the north, south east and west of Metro Manila.

“Hence, during truck hours from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., hundreds of trucks and trailers were forced to park along Bonifacio Drive and streets adjacent to Manila ports. Traffic congestion was aggravated when the Department of Public Works and Highways issued a directive prohibiting trucks from parking along Bonifacio Drive and nearby areas,” he said. (Kris Bayos, Manila Bulletin)

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New vessel tracking system to boost safety in Subic harbor

Vessels coming into harbor at the Subic Bay Freeport would feel doubly secure now, as the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce (SBFCC) installed a new vessel tracking system to help raise the level of safety in this maritime port.

SBFCC president Danny Piano said the business locators’ group installed a new Automatic Identification System (AIS) antenna on May 2 at the iconic Lighthouse Marina Resort, which is conveniently located to receive transceiver signals from ships entering or leaving Subic Bay.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairman Roberto Garcia welcomed the initiative of the SBFCC and said the equipment would complement the AIS that the SBMA, as manager of the maritime port, has been using to effectively keep track of vessels within its area, including those without any transmitters.

Piano said the additional AIS would help increase the level of safety in Subic Bay, which is increasingly becoming a major maritime hub.

“Placing a new vessel tracking system will boost safety and security, as it provides real-time data on ship positions and movements including arrival and departure information,” he also explained.

Piano said that the Lighthouse Marina Resort is a suitable location for the new AIS because it also has a tower equipped with a blinking white light that serves as a guide for ships.

He added that vesseltracker.com, an international provider of AIS services with a network of over 800 AIS receiver stations worldwide, is now the antenna partner of SBFCC in cooperation with The Lighthouse Marina Resort.

The Automatic Identification System is used on ships and by vessel traffic service outfits to identify and locate vessels by exchanging electronic data with other nearby ships, base stations and satellites.

Vessels fitted with AIS transceivers and transponders can be tracked by AIS base stations located along coast lines or, when out of range of terrestrial networks, through a growing number of satellites that are fitted with special AIS receivers which are capable of de-conflicting a large number of signatures.

AIS information supplements marine radar, which continues to be the primary method of collision avoidance for water transport. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
SBFCC president Danny Piano turns over an Automatic Identification System antenna to Jozen Curva, Public Relations Officer of The Lighthouse Marina Resort.

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SBMA receives ISO 9001:2008 certification

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) was recently granted the ISO 9001:2008 certification after passing the audit done by AJA Registrars, Inc., an independent certification body headquartered in the United Kingdom.

SBMA chairman Roberto Garcia received the certification on April 29 from Paul Bagatsing, vice president and general manager of AJA Registrars, Inc.- Philippines.

The certification places the SBMA at par with other organizations and companies around the world in terms of quality management systems.

The ISO 9001:2008 is the international standard for quality management systems set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

The certification specifies requirements for a quality management system where an organization needs to demonstrate its ability to consistently provide product that meets customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

Under ISO 9001:2008, the organization must aim to enhance customer satisfaction through the effective application of the system, including processes for continual improvement of the system and the assurance of conformity to applicable requirements.

Garcia said the certification came at a very fitting time as the Philippines is now the focus of foreign investors due to the recent upgrades of the country’s investment rating.

However, he reminded all SBMA personnel that the manuals set by the ISO are not cast in stone, and that they must strive for improvement all the time.

“We have to continuously train and upgrade our people and bring the mechanisms to make sure that we deliver the quality service that our investors want,” said Garcia, a quality practitioner during his time in the private sector.

“Quality means constant improvement – kaizen,” he added, referring to the Japanese philosophy of continuous improvement.

Bagatsing, for his part, reminded everyone that the certification is not just a piece of paper. “This represents three things: your past, or your effort that you put in this; your present, what you have now; and your future, or your responsibilities to keep continuous improvement,” he said.

He also added that it is vital to strive for more and not be complacent after receiving the ISO certification.

“Remember, your best today will be tomorrow’s average performance,” he said.

Bagatsing also said that they are very happy that the SBMA decided to pursue full certification. (FMD/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
SBMA chairman Roberto V. Garcia (right) receives the ISO 9001:2008 certification from AJA Registrars Inc. vice-president Paul Bagatsing.

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Subic Port collection above target

Data received from the Financial Service, Statistics Division of the Bureau of Customs showed that the Port of Subic collected the total amount of P1,091, 625, 587 for the month of April.

This is P561,980, 587 over its assigned target of P529,645.000, or a positive deviation of 106.1 percent.

Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon, upon learning of the above target collection, made a surprise visit yesterday to the Port of Subic to personally congratulate District Collector Atty. Adelina SE Molina for achieving an unprecedented collection performance.

The gesture of the Commissioner served as a motivation to the Port to further improve its revenue collection drive and the personnel has vowed to contribute towards the attainment of this vision.

Commissioner Biazon has just attended the 18th Meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Customs at Widus Hotel, Clarkfield, Angeles, Pampanga and decided to proceed to the nearby Port of Subic to show his appreciation and support to the team of District Collector Atty. Molina, her Deputy Collectors, Atty. Ernelito G. Aquino for Assessment, Atty. Andrew Fernandez for Operations, Atty. Irineo Onia Jr. for Administration as well as to the entire personnel of the Port for achieving this rare feat.

Biazon stressed the role of the various Association of Southeast Asian (Asean) customs agencies in establishing a One-Asean, One Customs environment among the 10 Asean member economies through the envisioned Asean Economic Integration for 2016 during the formal opening of the 18th Meeting of the Asean Coordinating Committee on Customs (CCC).

In delivering his keynote address to the customs officials of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines, Biazon underscored the evolving global economic trends where customs procedures among Asean member economies are being streamlined, trade barriers are being dismantled to give way to faster trade facilitation, even as enforcement of customs laws and rules and capacity building programs are being enhanced.

“Globalization is a reality we have to face and trade facilitation is at the forefront of this Asean economic endeavor” Biazon said, adding that, “Today’s meeting of customs chiefs shall, therefore, help pave the way for the establishment of an integrated customs agencies among the Asean countries,” Biazon said.

The Asean customs officials were also joined by the customs delegation from Japan, China and Korea.

The delegates to the 18th Asean CCCC shall discuss among others, the progress reports of the Customs Procedures and Trade Facilitation Working Group, the Customs Compliance Working Group and the Customs Capacity Building Working Group.

Preparations for the coming 22nd Meeting of Asean Directors-General of Customs shall also be discussed. Biazon currently seats as Chairman of said organization. (Malaya Business Insight)

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RP Energy boosts Subic Freeport security

The Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc. (RP Energy), proponent of the 60-megawatt coal-fired thermal plant project in this free port, has pitched in in keeping this free port safe by turning over a “Kasangga” security patrol van to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

The power firm complemented its vehicle donation with various equipment such as rain coats, flashlights, and two-way radios for use of the SBMA Law Enforcement Department (LED).

RP Energy Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Officer Victor Chan handed over the donations to Maj. Lourdesito Cebola and Lt. Alejandro Abarro, who represented the SBMA-LED during a simple turnover ceremony at the LED headquarters.

Chan said the donation is part of RP Energy’s “Kasangga Mo” CSR initiative, which aims to assist in the peace-and-order situation of communities near the firm’s proposed project site at the Redondo peninsula, which is part of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

RP Energy Project Manager Grant Smith said the assistance is meant to shorten the deployment and response time of SBMA security personnel and emergency-response units. (Henry Empeño, Business Mirror)

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SUBIC LABOR DAY

Workers from different locator-companies in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone take part in a dance contest in celebration of Labor Day.

The event, organized by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority’s Labor Department in cooperation with Ayala Malls’ Harbor Point, aimed to promote health awareness and camaraderie among business locators, customers and other stakeholders within the free port.

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Young guns carry fight in Subic meet

Rising stars led by gold medalist Yuan Chiongbian bagged six medals and carried the day for the Philippines in the recent K-Swiss ASTC Subic Bay Asian Triathlon Championships at the Subic Bay Freeport.

Chiongbian, of Cebu City, towed Brent Valelo of Clark and Lance Vincent Plaza of Laguna to an all-Filipino podium finish in the 13-14 years category.

Chiongbian covered the 350M swim, 10K bike and 2.5K run event in 35 minutes and 36 seconds. Lavelo finished second, seven seconds behind, with Plaza checking in third in 36:15.

Chiongbian’s female teammates in the same age-group of the championship sponsored by K-Swiss, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Tourism Department, Standard Insurance, Century Tuna, Speedo, David’s Salon, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines, Gatorade, Fitness First, Garmin, Canon, PLDT, Harbor Point Ayala Mall, SM Olongapo, Lighthouse Marina Resort and Philippine Sports Commission also won medals.

Shaia Ruth Uy, who also hails from Cebu City, clocked 40:04 to bag the silver medal. Margarita de los Reyes of Quezon City finished 16 seconds behind, good for the bronze.

Completing the cast of Filipino teenaged medalists was Magali Echauz, daughter of Ernesto Echauz, the Philippine Sailing Association president.

Campaigning in the 15-16 age category (Youth Olympic Games aspirants), Echauz settled for the silver in the 500M swim, 18K bike and 3.3K run event in 1:01:57. Thai Nichapat Kaewma won the gold medal.

With her feat, Echauz installed herself as a top contender, along with Louie Lalanto of Cagayan de Oro, for a slot in the Asian Youth Olympic Games qualifier next month in Kazakhstan.

“We are happy over the success achieved by our youth triathletes. We are monitoring the improvements of young triathletes from around Asia and we have decided to invest more on the youth triathlon development program headed by coach Melvin Fausto,” said Triathlon Association of the Philippines president Tom Carrasco. (Malaya)

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China triathletes win mixed relay

China emerged victorious in the first-ever Asian mixed relay, even as the Philippines, Malaysia and Korea bagged the three gold medals disputed in the Para-triathlon at the close of the 2013 K-Swiss Subic Bay ASTC Asian Triathlon Championships yesterday at the Subic Bay Freeport.

The Dungaree Beach was the site of the action in the third and final day of the event organized by Triathlon Association of the Philippines, in cooperation with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and presented by K-Swiss with the mixed relay held at the 750-m swim, 18-k bike and 5-k run, while the Para triathlon was raced at the distance of 300-m swim, 6-k bike and 2-k run.

Fan Dan, Duan Zhengyu Huang Yuting and Bai Faquan displayed their mettle as they led from start to finish leading to the best time of one hour, 31 minutes and 22 seconds in the race also supported by Standard Insurance, Century Tuna, Speedo, David’s Salon, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines, Gatorade, Fitness First, Garmin, Canon, PLDT, Harbor Point Ayala Mall, SM Cares Subic and Philippine Sports Commission.

Another Chinese team made up of Xin Lingxi, Xu Zheng, Wang Lianyuan and Zhang Yiming came in second at 1:31:58, but rules state that only one country can win a medal, thus the silver went to Japan made up of Ohara Sumire, Tanaguchi Shiruba, Matsumoto Fumika and Furuya Jumpei with a time of 1:32:41.

A full minute back at third (1:33:41) was the Hong Kong-China team represented by Joyce Cheng Ting Yan, Wright Andrew, Lee Yuk Ying Aggie and Tam Joe Dick Dickson.

“The team did an excellent job in today’s race. In general, I’m happy with our athletes’ performance. Japan remained the top team in triathlon this year, but all other countries, including China are trying to catch up with them,” said Chen Xiaoran, the secretary general of China Triathlon Sports Association thru an interpreter.

Meanwhile, five competitors saw action in the race for the differently abled, with Sabki Bin Arifin Mohd of Malaysia dominating the Tri-4 category. (Manila Standard Today)

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Ex-champs shine in Subic tilt

Former national champions showed they’re not over the hills yet by ruling their respective age-group divisions in Day 2 of the K-Swiss Subic Bay ASTC Asian Triathlon Championship yesterday at the Subic Bay Freeport.

Fifty-year-old Frank Lacson, acknowledged as the country’s first Filipino triathlete to compete abroad in 1992, joined George Vilog, Arthur Compra and Sandra Araullo-Gonzales at the podium after winning the 1.5-kilometer swim, 40km bike and 10km run contest in the 50-54 age category in two hours, 38 minutes and 27 seconds.

Vilog stamped his class in the 35-39 class by clocking 2:22:26 while Compra clocked 2:17:01 to reign supreme in the 45-49 category of the event organized by Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) in cooperation with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SMBA) and presented by K-Swiss.

Not to be left out, Araullo-Gonzales, a many-time SEA Games campaigner, dominated the women’s 30-34 class in 2:36:18.

Among those who made the mark in the sprint distance were Rajiv Gurung of Nepal and Yaugood Ahmed of Maldives as they won the gold (1:09:57) and bronze medal (1:16:51) in the 20-29 category.

Sharing the limelight with the former national champions was Ma. Lourdes Casareo, better known in the celebrity circle as Angelika dela Cruz. The sexy star bagged the silver medal in the female 30-39 age group after posting a time of 1:45:42 in the event backed by Standard Insurance, Century Tuna, SPEEDO, David’s Salon, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines (ACIP), Gatorade, Fitness First, Garmin, Canon, PLDT, Harbor Point Ayala Mall, SM Cares Subic and Philippine Sports Commission.

Other prominent names who won were former national duathlon champions August Benedicto (2:13:40) and Monica Torres (2:27:47), who topped the 25-29 age group. (Kristel Satumbaga, Manila Bulletin)

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Japanese bets rule Asian Triathlon tilt

Japanese triathletes Yuichi Hosoda and Mariko Adachi survived the tough challenge to retain their Elite Asian titles in yesterday’s K-Swiss Subic Bay ASTC Asian Triathlon Championships held at the Subic Bay Freeport.

Racing under searing heat, the 29-year-old Hosoda relied on his nerves of steel as he managed to keep up his pace leading to a convincing win against Chinese bet Jiang Zhihang.

A gold medalist in the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games and a veteran of the 2012 London Olympics where he finished 43rd overall, Hosada negotiated the 1.5-k swim, 40-k bike and 10-k run in two hours, one minute and 32 seconds to keep the title he won in the 2012 Tateyama ASTC Triathlon Championships.

“The weather was hot and I was dehydrated going into the run. I had to slow down in the last lap and was lucky to survive and win the race,” said Hosoda who was six seconds ahead of Zhihang at 2:01.51.

Another Japanese bet Ryoshuke Yamamoto took the bronze medal at 2:01.52 while China’s Bai Faquan, who ruled last year’s race organized by Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) in partnership with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), this time, settled for fourth at 2:03 and compatriot Zhang Yiming claimed the fifth spot at 2:03:01.

Earlier Adachi, winner in the female Elite in Tateyama, overcame a slow start with a big windup in the second loop of the four-loop run leg to steal the victory from compatriot and 2012 Asian Youth Games gold medalist Yuka Sato.

POC President Jose Cojuangco Jr. joined SMBA Chairman and CEO Roberto Garcia, ASTC President Yu Kung Sun and TRAP President, POC Chairman and ASTC SVP Tom Carrasco Jr. in awarding medals to the winners.

The 29-year-old, Osaka native Adachi used her experienced to the hilt as she allowed 21-year-old Sato to take control in the swim and bike before pushing herself to her limit in the run. (Manila Bulletin)

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More office, residential dev’t seen in Clark, Subic

MANILA - Development of more office spaces and residential properties are seen in Clark and Subic with the upcoming investments and expansion of manufacturing and business process outsourcing (BPO) firms in these areas which in turn would drive higher demand, property consultancy firm CBRE Philippines said.

CBRE Philippines said that due to infrastructure developments, businesses have started to expand from Metro Manila to peripheries, making Central Luzon a major investment destination.

With increased economic activity seen in the areas of Clark in Pampanga and Subic in Zambales, in particular, more office spaces and residential properties are also expected to be developed there.

The firm noted that new areas of investments for the manufacturing sector have been opened in the two areas due to the tensions between Japan, Taiwan and China amid territorial disputes, as well as the continuous development of infrastructure between the freeport zones there.

It said renewed growth in the manufacturing industry was seen with foreign firms choosing to locate in the Clark and Subic Freeport zones.

Apart from manufacturing, growth in the BPO industry in the two areas has also been observed.

With the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) removing the fiscal incentives for new developers of information technology (IT) parks in Metro Manila and in Cebu, CBRE Philippines said Metro Clark remains an attractive area for new IT facilities.

“The PEZA resolution has emphasized Metro Clark as a high potential investment destination,” it said.

As new locators and existing BPO firms expand in these areas, more developments are likewise expected.

“With the entrance of new locators and expansion of previous tenants in the BPO industry, the real estate office segment is seen to expand in the coming years,” CBRE Philippines said.

As more investments are made in these areas, expatriates would also demand for quality residential developments.

“Residential demand is seen to grow with the upcoming investments and expansion,” it said.

“Vertical residential developments are now seen rising in the area as developers try to maximize their investment on land,” it said further. (Louella D. Desiderio, Philippine Star)

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Salvtug expands tugboat fleet

Marine services provider Malayan Towage and Salvage Corporation, also known as Salvtug, inaugurated on Friday three new tugboats to beef up its capacity to provide critical support services to the shipping industry.

Salvtug president Capt. Edgardo Gualberto said the new tugboats consisted of M/T “Vigilant,” a Japanese-made 4,000-boiler horsepower (BHP) hybrid harbor assist tug, and the 4,400-BHP M/T “Intrepid” and M/T “Defiance,” both ocean-going harbor tugs from Singapore.

All three vessels are specially fitted with external fire-fighting equipment, Gualberto noted. In addition, Intrepid and Defiance have oil spill equipment.

Aside from being outfitted with the latest in technology, the new tugboats are so powerful that they can perform towage without difficulty, Gualberto added.

Salvtug Chairman and CEO Terry Watkins said the new tugboats represent “the beginning of a new era” for Salvtug, which started out in 1974 with just three coastal tugs and four barges.

Watkins said the company now owns 41 multi-tasked tugs, six special project vessels, a crewboat, and 13 container and general cargo barges, which include M/T “Trabajador-1,” said to be one of the more powerful oceangoing salvage tugs in the Western Pacific today.

Salvtug, which maintains vessels in the Subic Bay Freeport and other major ports in the Philippines, engage in the provision of marine services like harbour docking and undocking, ocean and coastal towage, marine salvage and wreck removal, oil spill response and recovery, emergency firefighting and underwater operations, as well as barging.

Officials say Salvtug now provides over 90 percent of the docking and undocking services for all types and sizes of vessels calling at all major Philippine ports.

It also provides tug service for coal power plants in Sual, Pangasinan; Masinloc, Zambales; Calaca, Batangas; and Pagbilao, Quezon, and services very large crude carriers (VLCC) and tankers that call at Petron, Shell and Caltex refineries and depots in Bataan and Batangas.

Salvtug has also refloated more than 145 vessels of various sizes, and maintains oil spill equipment of the Philippine Coast Guard and some oil companies. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Guests board the M/T Defiance, one of the three new tugboats inaugurated by the Malayan Towage and Salvage Corporation at the Bravo Pier in the Subic Bay Freeportlast Friday.

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Olympians head elite field in Asian triathlon

MANILA, Philippines - All the three Asian men and two of the four women who saw action in the 2012 London Olympics banner the field in the 2013 K-Swiss Subic Bay Asian Triathlon Championships slated at the Subic Bay Freeport April 27.

Japanese Hirokatsu Tayama, ranked 27th in the world, looms as the top contender. Tayama finished 20th in the London Olympics and ninth in the April 14 Ishigaki ITU World Cup.

Out to crowd Tayama are his teammates. They are world’s No. 49 and 43rd in London Olympics Yuichi Hosoda, who beat Tayama by 26 seconds in the Ishigaki World Cup where he landed eighth; and Ryosuke Yamamoto (world’s No. 67th), Ishigaki ITU World Cup highest-placed Japanese at sixth.

London Olympian Chinese Faiquan Bai (world’s No.131) and his teammate Yiming Zhang may yet pose a challenge to the Japanese. Bai, the reigning Subic Bay International Triathlon champion, duplicated his bronze-medal showing in last Saturday’s Chengdu ITU Triathlon Premium with Zhang checking in sixth.

“It is our fondest hope the Olympic veterans will inspire the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) aspirants to see the YOG as a bridge to the summit of all triathlons – the competition in the Olympic Games,” said Tom Carrasco, Triathlon Association of the Philippines president and Asian Triathlon Confederation senior VP.

It’s a toss-up between the Japanese duo of London Olympics 14th placer Mariko Adachi and Yuka Sato in the distaff side of the premier continental triathlon sponsored by Standard Insurance, Century Tuna, Speedo, David’s Salon, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines (ACIP), Gatorade, Fitness First, Garmin, Canon, PLDT and Philippine Sports Commission.

Adachi (world’s No. 29) is bent on exacting revenge on Sato (world’s No.33). Sato grabbed the silver medal in last Sunday’s Ishigaki World Cup as Adachi could only claim the seventh spot.

Also featured on the first of the three-day event is the penultimate leg of the country’s five-race qualifying series for the Asian Youth Games where the top finishers earn tickets to the Youth Olympic Games. Both games are slated in Nanjing, China, the former in July and the other next year.

Pacing the Filipino YOG hopefuls aged 18 and under by 2014 are Justin Chiongbian of Cebu City and Vicky Deldio of Zambales. Running second and third are Jimuel Patillan (Zambales) and Louie Lalanto (Cagayan de Oro) in the men’s division and Magali Echauz (Makati) and Kate Lagman (Cagayan de Oro) in the women’s. (Philippine Star)

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Eco-Youth Event

An Eco-Youth Challenge will be held inside this premier Freeport that is aimed to increase awareness and involvement of Subic and Olongapo high school students in activities beneficial to the environment.

Twenty-three schools from the two areas participated in the youth challenge that required participating high school teams to submit a project proposal using a P15,000 seed money that would benefit the local community.

The RP Energy Eco-Youth Challenge was spearheaded to complement the company’s four-day environment youth leadership training dubbed ‘Eco-U’ that ultimately aims to instill the value of environmental stewardship among the youth. (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

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ICTSI sees Subic becoming top seaport

Subic Free Port Zone will become a major port in 10 years, the top official of International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) said.

“Subic we are pushing hard we are building up the market, it takes a long time within the next 10 years. I think Subic will become a major port,” said Enrique Razon, chairman and president of ICTSI, during the company’s annual stockholders meeting on Thursday.

The Port of Subic in Zambales is located in the vicinity of Subic Bay, one of the Philippines’ finest harbors and most strategic base.

Subic Port is the country’s first free port and continues to be one of the country’s major economic engines with more than 700 investment projects, including the fourth largest shipbuilding facility in the world.

Earlier reports said that at present, Subic is upgrading its port facilities through the Subic Bay Port Development Project, and forging ties with the Clark Special Economic Zone in Angeles Pampanga to form the Subic-Clark Corridor via the 45-kilometer segment of Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway. With those developments, Subic and Clark are being positioned to become one of the most competitive international service and logistics centers in Southeast Asia.
Financial results

During the ICTSI annual stockholders meeting, it was reported that the company’s consolidated cash operating expenses in 2012 grew 10 percent to $319 million, from $289.3 million in 2011.

The increase was mainly driven by the full-period consolidation of the expenses of terminals in the United States and Croatia, and the inclusion of new terminals in Indonesia and Pakistan.

Consolidated financing charges and other expenses slid 25 percent to $35 million, from $46.4 million. The company said that the decrease was due to the higher capitalized borrowing cost as the company expanded existing terminals, and developed new projects in Mexico and Argentina.

In 2012, ICTSI’s capital expenditure was about $465.6 million, against a full-year capital expenditure of $550 million.
“Our capex program is $500 million this year then it will severely drop after that next year, so we are covered this year already,” Razon said.

The group’s capital expenditure budget for 2013 is approximately $500 million, mainly allocated for the completion of projects in Argentina and Mexico, and the ramp-up of construction in Colombia and Philippines.
 
ICTSI also said that it will vie for seaport developments in Cambodia and Greece.

“We are just looking, waiting, same parts, Latin America, Africa, Middle East and Asia of course,” Razon said.

“Mynamar, we are watching it but no plans to expand there. Cambodia is the most promising, but the government has not decided to privatize, one thing or another they have not made up their mind. Its beyond our control, the time table there,” Razon said. ( Rosalie C. Periabras, Manila Times)

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